Conservative MPs condemn government’s ‘war on landlords’

Tory MPs fear the soon-to-be-published Renters’ Reform Bill will force more landlords to sell up.

According to the Telegraph, there are growing concerns amongst Conservative MPs that the government has gone too far with its war on landlords.

The Bill is set to include a wide range of reforms for the PRS and is expected to include scrapping Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and giving all tenants the right to request a pet in their home.

‘The reality is landlords will abandon the market’

Craig Mackinlay, Conservative MP for South Thanet in Kent, told the Telegraph: “The reality is, landlords will abandon the market and we will have a very serious housing crisis on our hands.

“I’m worried about landlords leaving the market. There’s a huge amount of disquiet about this.

“From colleagues, I’m talking to, they’re not happy. We have seen too much of a war against landlords.”

Marco Longhi, Tory MP for Dudley North, said legislating the renters’ reform bill was ‘like wielding a hammer to crack a nutshell’.

He told the Telegraph: “It’s a disaster. You will see huge swathes of landlords leave the market, and this has been happening for several months already.”

He added: “The Government doesn’t realise how much it depends on private sector landlords. These properties landlords are now selling aren’t even affordable for the majority of renters, so where are these people going to go?”

Number of landlords planning to sell properties hits highest rate on record

Polling by the NRLA found that the number of landlords who are planning to sell their properties has hit its highest rate on record.

It found that in the first quarter of 2023, 33% of private landlords in England and Wales said they are planning to reduce their portfolio size.

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities told the Telegraph the government is ‘absolutely committed’ to delivering a fairer deal for renters.

The spokesperson added: “We will bring forward legislation very shortly, which will include a ban on ‘no fault’ evictions, so that all tenants have greater security in their homes and are empowered to challenge poor conditions.

“We are also introducing a Decent Homes Standard for the Private Rented Sector for the first time ever which will make sure privately rented homes are safe and decent.”

The full article by the Telegraph can be read here (Paywall).